Transportation companies, family entertainment centers, towing operations, emergency services, and other 24/7 businesses face unique security challenges that traditional "9-to-5" security approaches simply can't address. When hackers know your systems are always active and handling critical operations, you become a particularly attractive target.
At Treo Solutions, we've spent over 30 years working with always-on businesses—from taxi dispatch systems running iCabbi and TaxiCharger to entertainment venues managing Apex Timing and Intercard systems. We understand that for you, "schedule maintenance during off-hours" isn't an option. Your off-hours don't exist.
In This Article
Why 24/7 Operations Are Different
The Availability Imperative
For most businesses, taking systems offline for updates or maintenance is an inconvenience. For you, it's a business-stopping event:
- Taxi and towing companies can't dispatch vehicles
- Entertainment centers can't process transactions or manage attractions
- Healthcare facilities can't access patient records
- Manufacturing operations stop production
- Recycling facilities can't weigh or track materials
This creates a fundamental tension: cybersecurity best practices often require downtime, but you can't afford downtime.
The Attack Surface Reality
Always-on businesses typically have:
- Multiple access points: Drivers, dispatchers, remote workers, vendors, customers
- Legacy systems: Specialized industry software that may not receive regular security updates
- Integration complexity: Payment processors, GPS systems, dispatch software, booking platforms
- Geographic distribution: Multiple locations, mobile devices, remote access
- High transaction volumes: More opportunities for suspicious activity to hide
The Cost of Compromise
When a 24/7 business gets hit by a cyberattack, the damage is multiplied: revenue loss every minute of downtime, reputation damage with customers who expect reliability, operational chaos with drivers who can't be dispatched, and exponentially harder recovery while trying to maintain operations.
The Seven Pillars of 24/7 Cybersecurity
1 Layered Defense (Defense in Depth)
Never rely on a single security measure. Build multiple layers so if one fails, others catch the threat.
What This Looks Like:
- Perimeter security: Firewall protecting your network edge
- Endpoint protection: Antivirus/anti-malware on every device
- Email filtering: Blocking phishing attempts before they reach users
- Access controls: Authentication systems limiting who can access what
- Monitoring: 24/7 watching for suspicious activity
- Backup systems: Regular, tested backups stored securely
Why it matters: If a driver's tablet gets compromised, endpoint protection catches it. If that fails, access controls prevent lateral movement to critical systems. If data is encrypted by ransomware, backups let you recover.
2 Zero-Downtime Update Strategies
Security patches are critical, but you can't just shut down to install them. Here's how to stay updated without stopping operations:
High-Availability Architectures:
- Redundant systems: Run parallel infrastructure so you can update one while the other serves customers
- Load balancers: Distribute traffic across multiple servers; update them in rotation
- Hot-swappable components: Design systems where components can be updated individually
Smart Scheduling:
- Staggered updates: Update half your systems at a time
- Low-traffic windows: Even 24/7 operations usually have slower periods (3-5 AM for many)
- Geographic rotation: If you have multiple locations, update them sequentially
3 Real-Time Monitoring and Response
If you're always operational, your security monitoring must be too.
What You Need:
- 24/7 SOC (Security Operations Center): Either in-house or through your MSP
- Automated threat detection: AI-powered systems that spot anomalies instantly
- Immediate alerting: Notifications that reach the right person within minutes
- Playbook responses: Documented procedures for common threats
Critical Metrics to Monitor:
- Failed login attempts (especially from unusual locations)
- Network traffic spikes or unusual patterns
- System resource usage anomalies
- Database access outside normal parameters
- Configuration changes to critical systems
- Outbound connections to suspicious IPs
4 Access Control and Privilege Management
Not everyone needs access to everything, especially in 24/7 environments where many people work unsupervised hours.
Principle of Least Privilege:
- Give users only the access they need for their specific job
- Limit administrative access to as few people as possible
- Use time-based access (permissions expire after a shift ends)
Role-Based Access Control Examples:
- Dispatchers can access dispatch system but not accounting
- Drivers can update their status but not see other drivers' information
- Managers can view reports but not modify system settings
- Administrators have full access but all actions are logged
5 Backup and Disaster Recovery (The Lifeline)
For 24/7 operations, backups aren't just about data protection—they're about business continuity.
The 3-2-1 Backup Rule (Adapted for Always-On):
- 3 copies of your data: Production, local backup, offsite backup
- 2 different media types: Disk-based and cloud-based, for example
- 1 offsite copy: Protected from local disasters
For 24/7 Operations, Add:
- Continuous data protection: Near-real-time backups, not just nightly
- Hot standby systems: Secondary infrastructure ready to take over instantly
- Geographic redundancy: Critical systems replicated to separate locations
Real Scenario: With Proper Backups
Your dispatch system gets hit by ransomware at 8 PM Friday. Within 15 minutes, you're running on hot standby system. Within 2 hours, primary system is restored from pre-infection backup. You've lost minimal revenue and customers barely noticed.
6 Employee Training and Awareness
Your team is either your best defense or your biggest vulnerability. In 24/7 operations with multiple shifts and varying technical literacy, this is especially challenging.
The Problem:
- Night shift workers often have less supervision
- High employee turnover in some industries means constant retraining
- Time pressure makes people take shortcuts
- Phishing attempts don't just happen during business hours
Job-Specific Security Training:
- Drivers: Recognizing fake dispatch messages, protecting customer data
- Dispatchers: Identifying social engineering attempts, data access responsibilities
- Front desk/POS: Payment card security, customer data protection
- Managers: Recognizing suspicious activity, incident response procedures
7 Vendor and Third-Party Security
24/7 operations typically depend on multiple specialized vendors. Each one is a potential security weak point.
Your Vendors Likely Include:
- Payment processors
- Software vendors (dispatch systems, POS, booking platforms)
- Equipment vendors (scales, timing systems, GPS providers)
- Service providers (internet, phone, cloud hosting)
- Maintenance contractors (sometimes with remote access)
Security Requirements:
- Request security certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS if handling payments)
- Limit their access to only what they need
- Use separate credentials for each vendor
- Time-limit access (temporary access that expires)
- Monitor vendor access activity
Specific Threats to 24/7 Operations
🕐 Timing Attacks
Attackers strike during low-staffing periods (nights, weekends, holidays) when response is slower.
🌊 DDoS Attacks
Overwhelming your systems with traffic to shut you down. If your dispatch goes offline, vehicles can't be coordinated.
🔐 Ransomware
Malware that encrypts your data and demands payment. Particularly devastating for operations that can't pause.
🎭 Social Engineering
Manipulating employees into giving access. "This is dispatch, I need you to reset my password right away."
Network Segmentation: Critical for 24/7
One of the most important but often overlooked security measures is network segmentation—dividing your network into separate zones with restricted communication between them.
Why it matters: If an attacker compromises one system, segmentation prevents them from accessing everything.
Segment by Function:
- Corporate network (office computers, email)
- Operational network (dispatch, POS, timing systems)
- Guest network (customer WiFi)
- Industrial/equipment network (scales, machinery)
- Management network (servers, backups)
If a driver's tablet is compromised, it can't reach the backup servers or office network. The attacker is contained to the driver device network segment.
Building Your 24/7 Security Plan
Phase 1: Foundation
- Inventory your systems: What runs 24/7? What's mission-critical?
- Assess current security: Where are the gaps?
- Implement 24/7 monitoring: Even basic monitoring is better than none
- Establish backup procedures: If you don't have reliable backups, fix this immediately
- Set up MFA: At minimum for administrative access and remote connections
Phase 2: Hardening
- Network segmentation: Design and implement logical network divisions
- Access control review: Implement least-privilege and role-based access
- Vendor security assessment: Evaluate third-party security practices
- Incident response plan: Document procedures for common scenarios
- Employee training program: Roll out security awareness training
Phase 3: Optimization
- Redundancy and high-availability: Build systems that can be updated without downtime
- Advanced threat detection: Implement EDR and other advanced tools
- Regular testing: Schedule disaster recovery drills, penetration testing
- Continuous improvement: Review and update security measures quarterly
Questions to Ask Your IT Provider
If you're working with an MSP or IT provider, they should be able to confidently answer:
Critical Questions:
- Do you provide 24/7 security monitoring and response?
- What's your average response time to security alerts?
- How do you apply security updates without causing downtime?
- How frequently are backups performed, and when did you last test them?
- Do you have experience securing our specific systems (iCabbi, Enmark Eniteo, Maxident, etc.)?
- What's your incident response process?
The Bottom Line
Cybersecurity for 24/7 operations isn't about achieving perfect security—that's impossible. It's about:
- Understanding your unique risks as an always-on business
- Building layered defenses that protect without shutting you down
- Planning for incidents because they will happen
- Having procedures that let you respond quickly and effectively
- Working with partners who understand your operational constraints
The goal is to make your business a harder target than your competitors while maintaining the availability your customers expect.